The 92nd Academy Awards offered a music-propelled celebration of film that — despite no host, comedy sketches or bits — still ran long. The glitzy show was a mixed bag of historic upsets, left-field surprises, heartfelt words and widely expected wins.
History was made when Director Bong Joon Ho’s South Korean film ‘Parasite’ became the first non-English film to land the Academy’s Best Picture award. Clip Courtesy A.M.P.A.S. © 2020 2:57
With a mix of historic upsets, left-field surprises, heartfelt words as well as widely expected wins, the 92nd Academy Awards was a glitzy celebration of film. It was a music-propelled evening that — despite no host, comedy sketches or formal “bits” — still ran long. Here are some highlights from the night.
Parasite’s party
Cheers to Bong Joon Ho, who can happily raise a glass of soju after his much-heralded satire-thriller Parasite made history several times over at the Oscars.
Since Parasite captured the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival last May (the first South Korean film ever to do so), fans of the contemporary class tale steadily became legion worldwide. On Sunday night, everyone learned that the #BongHive also extends to the Oscars academy.
Not only did they grant South Korea its first-ever Oscar-winner, they also crowned Parasite the first non-English movie ever to win the night’s highest honour.
Standing O for Maestro Scorsese inside of Maestro Bong’s speech has me… #Oscars pic.twitter.com/DbXVOdQDi8
—@ava
The movie’s repeat wins (original screenplay, international feature, direction and best picture) sparked utter delight and surprise in writer-director Bong, who graciously acknowledged his cast, crew and fellow nominees every time he took the stage.
Passionate plea
After wins for the same four actors throughout the film awards season, Joaquin Phoenix capturing best lead actor for Joker was a given. With each acceptance speech along the way, however, the notably press shy actor has increasingly spoken out on a variety of issues important to him, including equality and veganism on Oscar night.
#Oscars Moment: Joaquin Phoenix wins Best Actor for his work in @jokermovie. pic.twitter.com/M8ryZGKGHV
“Whether we are talking about gender and equality or racism or queer rights or Indigenous rights or animal rights… We are talking about the fight against injustice. We’re talking about the fight against the belief that one nation, one people, one race, one gender or one species has the right to dominate, control and use and exploit another with impunity,” he noted in his Oscar acceptance, which included a reference to his late brother, actor River Phoenix.
“We’re at our best… when we support each other. Not when we cancel each other out for past mistakes, but when we help each other grow, when we educate each other, when we guide each other toward redemption.
“That is the best o